Conclusion: The Bottom Line

Matthew 16:18 CSB

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

INTRO—

To tie in what I forgot to include last week at the end of my message…

[P. 146-147] “That’s a lot going on in your little ol’ church when the sound system doesn’t work, you’re meeting in a parking deck because you’re not safe from disease inside, the kids are whining for food, Sister Bethel snore through the benediction, Brother Jim posted something dumb on Facebook, and the pastor put in a C+ effort on sermon prep because he had a funeral and three unexpected hospital visits. When you rediscover church, you’ll see the beauty where much of the world sees only rocks.”

Rocks…Peter…stones… 1 Peter 2:4–5 “As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God—you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

…Peter (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) wants us to see that God has told us he is building something beautiful—us, the church! (p. 146)

[Reading the “Just Show Up” (pp. 147-148)]

SHOW UP

“Just show up”

“Show up consistently”

“Consistently show up”

Lack of consistency = missing out on the formative experience

Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.”

Acts 2:46 “Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts,”

Hebrews 10:25 “not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

CARE

“Ask how you can help”

“Seek to care for others”

“Ask others how they [you] can help”

Not seeking to care = (Learning to…; Falling into a trap of…) Judge the church for failing to meet your needs…and others for failing to reach out to you

Acts 2:44–45 “Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

Acts 2:47 “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”

Hebrews 10:23–24 “Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works,”

CONCL—

What can I do for my church’s refocus and renewal?

Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”

[[I have asked you to pray and seriously think about this question, BECAUSE…none of what we want for our church happens—without US!]]

If you don’t know…aren’t sure…ASK ME!

[P. 148] “So show up and ask around. Other Christians need you more than you can realize. One day you’ll understand how much you needed them, too.”

I would add— “…you’ll understand, if you haven’t already, how much…”

1 Corinthians 12:12 “For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.”

1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.”

INVITATION:

Salvation

Refocus

Renewal

Acts 2:42 CSB

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.